Outdoor Dining in the Desert at HooDoo Palm Springs

If you like the heat, Palm Springs is the perfect weekend getaway. The day may be spent by the pool, but as the sun starts to set, the temperature drops just a bit and, if you are lucky, a warm breeze starts to blow. It’s nice to sit outside for a bite to eat and a drink. Located in the front of the Hyatt Hotel in Palm Springs, HooDoo is that spot. Grab a seat in the shade, watch the people walk by on Palm Canyon Drive, listen to live music (on Saturday nights) and enjoy the open air.

We started with a few drinks, like the Palm Springs Hibiscus Cooler (silver tequila, hibiscus liqueur, cucumber soda, cucumber garnish), the Golden State Fig (lemon vodka, ginger liqueur, orange juice, fig preserves, saffron bitters, soda water) and the White Sangria. The drinks are made with fresh ingredients and are on the sweet side. Our favorite was the non-alcoholic Cool as a Cucumber (lemonade, cucumber soda and mint) which is perfectly refreshing on a hot day.

The menu includes typical bar food items like skewers, sliders, sandwiches and salads that are easy to share with friends. We tried a number of plates and the highlights were……..

Stone Ale-Battered Fish Nuggets are fresh tender bites of fish that are lightly battered and perfectly crispy but not oily or greasy. The smoked chili aioli that comes on the side adds a nice little kick.

California Mission Fig-Glazed Pork Shanks are covered in a tangy, slightly sweet glaze and are very tasty.

The HooDoo menu has four skewer options and we chose the Grilled Barbecue Shrimp and Hoodoo Herb Marinated Scallops. The scallops are delicate and flavorful little bites and the shrimp is cooked perfectly. I had thought that the shrimp would be marinated in the barbecue sauce but instead it is drizzled on top and overwhelms the shrimp. I suggest asking for the sauce on the side.

We ordered the Mojave Tequila Duck Confit Quesadilla with Roasted Salsa, Citrus Creme and Manchego Cheese Blend. Quesadillas are great to share but the duck was a little dry for my taste.

We also tried the HooDoo Sliders (Stone Ale Braised Short Rib, Lobster Roll Desert Style, Ahi Tuna with Tequila Lime Aioli). The bun is sweet and softer than it looked. However, the buns were larger than the meat inside. The Ahi Tuna was the favorite of the three and we also liked the lobster. But the braised short rib tasted and looked more like tri-tip. If it was braised short rib, it was overcooked but if it was tri-tip, it was cooked to well-done.

For desert, try the Buzz Bar Ice Creams bars. These alcoholic ice cream bars are not for the kids. The dark chocolate that encases the ice cream and alcohol is thick and yummy but in the heat, the ice cream melts fast so eat it quickly!